Chicken Parm Sandwich

I’m a firm believer that most foods can be comfort foods (I am equally fond of a cinnamon roll, salmon poke bowls and lemon pasta, depending on what kind of cozy mood I’m in). But a chicken parm sandwich ticks all of the comfort food boxes: it’s warm and cheesy, and the chicken is tender and smothered in marinara sauce. It takes all there is to love about parmesan chicken and stuffs it into bread (which we highly recommend that you toast.)

Fun fact: Chicken parmesan is Italian-American, not Italian; Italian immigrants developed it in the United States. It’s believed to be adapted from eggplant parmesan, which is Italian.

Chicken Parm Sandwich Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: The flour helps the egg stick to the chicken as you make the cutlets.
• Egg: As a binding agent, the egg helps the breadcrumb mixture stick to the chicken.
• Seasoned bread crumbs: Seasoned bread crumbs use Italian spices and add an extra burst of flavor.
• Parmesan cheese: This cheese mixes with the bread and lends some saltiness and flavor.
• Chicken breast: By slicing these in half, the chicken will be thinner, which is ideal for placing it into the sandwiches.
• Italian rolls: Long hoagie buns are chewy and won’t get too soggy from the sauce.
• Provolone cheese: Provolone is a good match for this dish because it adds rich flavor to accentuate the breaded chicken and sauce.
• Marinara sauce: If you don’t have this on hand, you can use any other meatless pasta sauce. It will be even tastier if you make the marinara at home!

Directions

Step 1: Set up your mise en place

Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home

Place the flour and egg in separate shallow bowls. In another bowl, toss the bread crumbs with the Parmesan cheese.

Step 2: Prepare the chicken

Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home

Pound the chicken with a meat mallet so it reaches 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Dip the chicken in flour to coat both sides and shake off excess flour. Dip the chicken in the egg and then in the crumb mixture.

Editor’s Tip: Pounding the chicken is key to ensuring the chicken comes out tender, never tough. Ensure uniform thickness for best results.

Step 3: Cook the chicken and prepare your sandwiches

Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, and cook until golden brown and the chicken is no longer pink inside, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve the chicken in rolls, topped with the provolone cheese and marinara sauce.

Editor’s Tip: Try toasting your bread before putting the sandwiches together. For even more flavor, toast it with garlic basil butter.

Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home

Chicken Parm Sandwich Variations

• Mix up your bread: Use a garlic hoagie or ciabatta as the base instead. Depending on the bread shape, you may want to slice your chicken cutlets for the best fit.
• Ditch the bread: For something different, put your cutlets on top of noodles (or zoodles!) and then top with the sauce and cheese.
• Change your cheese: Instead of provolone, place mozzarella on top of your chicken cutlets.
• Add veggies: You can saute or fry up some peppers and onions and place them inside the sandwich. Or, try sauteing mushrooms and adding them to the marinara sauce.
• Add herbs: Sprinkle chopped basil on top of the cheese before finishing your sandwich.

How to Store Chicken Parm Sandwiches

This recipe is best enjoyed hot and freshly prepared, but if you want to store it, we advise keeping the components separate. Put the chicken in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge. The marinara sauce can also be stored in the fridge if it’s homemade or if the jar has been opened.

Make sure to reheat before eating; it’s at its best warm!

Can you freeze a chicken parm sandwich?

You can freeze this chicken parmesan sandwich either after baking or frying the chicken or before (this will just impact the cooking time). You can also assemble the chicken, sauce and cheese in advance. Make sure that everything is properly wrapped.

For best results, we recommend freezing before you’ve baked the chicken. We also recommend buying fresh bread.

Chicken Parm Sandwich Tips

Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home

Can you make these chicken parm sandwiches in the oven?

Easily! Baking chicken parmesan uses less oil than frying on the stove and delivers nearly identical results. After preparing the chicken, preheat the oven to 400°F and place the cutlets on a pre-oiled pan. Bake for around 15 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside.

Can you make this chicken parm sandwich recipe gluten-free?

You can definitely make this for gluten-free eaters. Just use gluten-free breadcrumbs and gluten-free flour (almond flour could work, or a one-to-one blend). You could also omit these ingredients and just do grilled or baked chicken. And, of course, use gluten-free rolls or buns.

What’s the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana?

The difference is in name only. “Parmigiana” is an Italian word that means “from Parma,” a region in Italy, but it also refers to a dish that’s cooked with parmesan cheese.